Roam+Board :: Nira Alpina

[trip style = ski + spa + luxe]

{Editor’s Note: I've seen this chic ski resort making the rounds over the past few months and can't get its location and design out of my head. I haven't been here, but am hoping to stay {and ski} in the Swiss Alps in the nearsighted future.}

What Following the cascading lines of the hill, every room in this recently minted ski-in, ski-out mountain resort features floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto a private patio.

With panoramic views of the Engadin Mountains and Lake Silvaplana, the 70-room Nira Alpina hotel and spa layers Swiss spruce, Italian stone, traditional touches and contemporary lines in its modern chalet design.

Access the ski hill via a private walkway to the Corvatsch cable car station and get lifted 3300 meters to the mountain's highest point before shredding 350km of ski terrain below.

Soothe tired muscles in the sauna and steam room, and wind down at hotel's swish piano bar beside a crackling fire. Romantic après anyone?

Where Perched at the highest point in the small village of Surlej, five kilometres from St. Moritz, Switzerland. Fly into Zurich and ride the train for four hours past high-reaching glaciers and soaring bridges. PS - Bluebird days are a dime a dozen with the region's average 322 days of sun per year.

When Like any mountain resort town, there is a distinct sport-induced seasonality: winter skiing {Dec - Apr} and summer hiking/biking {Jun - Oct}. The rest of the year is rest and reno time for locals.

Who/Why You're a skier/snowboarder with a leaning toward luxury seeking your next mountaintop experience.

Cost From $330/night in winter, and $250/night in summer. Includes wifi and breakfast.

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More Roam+Board Rockhouse – Jamaica Hotel Bellevue – Near Seattle Rolling Huts – Methow Valley {WA} Golden Rock Inn – Nevis The Ace NYC – New York The Viceroy – Palm Springs Sorobon Beach Resort – Bonaire From ice hotels to Anna Wintour’s steal-of-a-deal holiday escape, find all featured R+B properties here.

[photos via nira alpina]

Roam+Board :: Hotel Bellevue

[trip style = weekend getaway + luxury + active]

{Editor’s Note: Enter to win a travel set from Shaffali Skincare, inspired by Ayurvedic herbs aromatherapeutic essences including French lavender, Croatian sage, Italian orange blossom, and Egyptian geranium! Contest ends TODAY. Enter NOW!}

What The 67-room Hotel Bellevue is hidden, that's the point. Not a place to be seen or be dazzled, the sub/urban retreat has a secret weapon: Bellevue's most prestigious wellness address. Hotel guests get access to the 200,000-sf Bellevue Club with a state-of-the-art spa, health club, indoor jogging track, gym, three pools {one outdoor}, tennis, racquetball and squash.

Wrapped in a West Coast architecture with a refined contemporary interior, the sub/urban retreat leaves you with a sense of low-key luxury. Above a landscaped garden, one of the rock pillars fronting the property holds a small, gold sign -- Small Luxury Hotels of the World -- which sets the tone for your entire stay. With discreet service and amenities like a Mercedes towncar, this health hotel holds its own, without having to be in the centre of it all.

I recently stayed here and this property is Trip Styler approved. {See my detailed Trip Advisor review here.}

Where Bellevue, Washington. Two minutes outside of downtown Bellevue, 15 minutes from Seattle and 2.5 hours from Vancouver.

When Year-round. Stay and play in the health facilities, walk in nearby parks, or shop at Bellevue Collection or The Bravern. Don't miss our fave restau picks.

Who/Why You're seeking a calm and collected trip style = weekend getaway. Ideal for a girls shopping/wellness weekend, couples health retreat, personal escape or family getaway.

Cost From $135/night including access to sports facilities and fitness classes {incl. yoga and pilates}, wifi and Mercedes S63 AMG towncar service. Valet is $12/night. Dogs are $25/stay.

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More Roam+Board Rolling Huts - Methow Valley {WA} Golden Rock Inn - Nevis The Ace NYC – New York The Viceroy – Palm Springs Sorobon Beach Resort – Bonaire From ice hotels to Anna Wintour's steal-of-a-deal holiday escape, find all featured R+B properties here.

[photos via Hotel Bellevue]

Spotlight :: Dallas

[trip style = luxury + urban + weekend getaway]

Aside from a few expected sightings: bedazzled cowboy boots, massive highways and fun-atical sports fans clad head to toe in logo-wear, my December trip style = weekend getaway in Dallas was an unexpected mix of polar opposites. The kind that separates the jocks from the drama kids in high school. Except, like Finn---the jock/singer on Glee---the two are not mutually exclusive in Dallas.

Enamoured by the American football culture of larger-than-life stadiums, all-day tailgating and professional cheerleaders, our super-fan friends asked if we wanted to accompany them to a Dallas Cowboys game. Without hesitation the answer was yes.

I didn't do hours of pre-trip research. All I could think of was the sport-cation's Sunday game. My cultural blinders were on to everything else.

When my feet hit the ground, my tune changed. I found a city with an architectural and arts footprint the size of multiple football fields. Everything's bigger in Texas, right? Where most major metropolises have cultural buildings scattered throughout town, Dallas has a district with vertical performance spaces, modern glass masterpieces, and progressive museums and galleries featuring both the classics and today's avant-garde artists.

The next day, I ventured outside of my trip style = urban experience for the sport-cation's crescendo: the Dallas Cowboys game {more on this soon}. Looks like there's room in Dallas for the jocks and the drama club.

Eat

• Brunch: The Dallas Museum of Art's restaurant. You'd think dining in a high-ceilinged, wide-open space would be low on the atmosphere scale, but massive art installations and upscale restaurant fare make it feel intimate. Try the $18 brunch, which includes a mimosa, coffee, pastries, entree and as many trips to the candy bar as your blood sugar allows.
• Dinner: Private Social. This dimly-lit, chef-driven hotspot is founded on the idea that space and food appeal to different palates, so they created both intimate and social areas for sitting, and personal or shared plates for eating---you choose which experience suits you best.

Do

• Browse the Dallas Arts District.
• Go to a Dallas Cowboys game at their state-of-the-art stadium 30 minutes away.
• Watch a Dallas Stars game {preferably when they're playing the Canucks!} at the American Airlines Center, within walking distance of downtown Dallas.
• Shop in the original Neiman Marcus.

Stay Fairmont Dallas. Located on the edge of the Dallas Arts District, this is one of Fairmont's most reasonably priced properties and for the price, well worth the stay. Spring for the Fairmont Gold Floor, with separate check-in, renovated rooms and a lounge serving breakfast, lattes, a light lunch and dessert. {See my Trip Advisor review here}

Getting There Reaching Dallas {DFW} is convenient with year-round, direct flights from Vancouver. Dallas is American Airlines' hub, so the carrier runs two flights daily {~$400+ return year round}.

[photos by @tripstyler]

London's Calling

[trip style = luxury + urban]

I spy with my little eye, something that is:

• white, red and splashy;
• has a sleek, purple-lit interior;
• serves an in-air welcome cocktail, wine or beer; a full meal; dessert service with coffee, tea and hot chocolate; a movie snack AND afternoon tea.

Big news. Reach London in style without paying insane business class fares via Air Canada or British Airways. Hint hint, this airline's economy is similar to most airlines' business class. Virgin Atlantic will be flying into Vancouver from London Heathrow four times weekly, and seasonal lift-off is expected between May 24 to Oct 27.

Virgin CEO Steve Ridgway noted that Vancouver is a market Virgin has been eyeing for years, and hinted they are already anticipating building the service with more frequent flights as well as yearly service.

Grab your Mulberry bag, your Burberry trench and get ready to jetset with a little more class than your usual middle-of-the-road transatlantic flights. Cheerio!

Fast Facts

• The service will be operated by an Airbus A340-300, configured with 34 upper class suites, 35 premium economy seats and 171 economy seats
• Flight times: Depart London at 1pm, arrive Vancouver 3.10pm. Depart Vancouver 7.50pm and arrive the next day at 1.45pm
• Flight days: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
• Vancouver is the only Canadian city on Virgin Atlantic's roster

Book it Virgin Atlantic's flight between London and Vancouver is now available for booking!

[photo sourced online]

Roam+Board :: The Viceroy Palm Springs

[trip style = sun + luxury]

{Editor’s Note: Two weeks ago I was in Palm Springs with the Bureau of Tourism and had the great pleasure of staying at The Viceroy. I will definitely be returning. It is ultra Trip Styler approved. Stay tuned for our Palm Springs Spotlight next week!}

What The sight and sound of water gently flowing over lava rock into a koi pond is the first note; the rocky mountains climbing beyond the pools and spa is the crescendo. From beginning to end, the 1930s-built former motor lodge that's welcomed the likes of Bing Crosby and Clark Gable charms and enchants all five senses. The Viceroy is fancy without being frou frou and whimsical without being overdone. Like its grand dame of design, Kelly Wearstler, it’s strikingly pulled together with a white canvas, black geometric lines and yellow splashes of colour.

A few calming steps through the secret garden entry reveal a 4.5 acre property that fans out like a gorgeous peacock tail on display. The lobby is tall, slender and cheery leading to Citron restaurant with a polished yet casual atmosphere and fresh Californian cuisine. Follow the lemon trees and topiaries to the 67 guest rooms, spa, three pools, courtyards and grassy patches seemingly made for an afternoon picnic.

Where Palm Springs, California. Ten minutes from the airport {PSP} and one block from downtown’s shopping district. Getting there from Vancouver is a cinch with direct and daily WestJet service.

When Year-round. Planning a fall, winter or spring retreat is a pretty good bet with Palm Spring’s 354 days of sun. For a spontaneous trip style = weekend getaway, check the weather and throw a few essentials in your carry-on.

Who/Why Your hotel match made in heaven marries high design with highly attentive service. Fido is welcome too for $100/stay {with a portion of pet fee donated to the local animal shelter}.

Cost Rates typically start at $150 in the off-season {late spring, summer, early fall}. A daily $28 resort fee includes morning coffee in Citron, gym, steam room, cruiser bicycle use, wifi & parking. {Trip Styler Tip :: Don’t miss the Breathe Easy Package (a steal of a deal) starting at $95 with an additional 25% off all food & bev, spa services and resort fee.}

More Roam+Board Parker - Palm Springs Sorobon Beach Resort - Bonaire Kura Hulanda - Curacao Hotel Kakslauttanen - Finland The Met - Vancouver Custom Hotel - LAX Bitter End Yacht Club - BVI Sleep On The Water - London A Woodsy Hideaway - Big Sur, CA